In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, No. 2 Alabama avoids a scare from No. 15 Robert Morris.

The first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament is always ripe with potential upsets, and this year, the No. 2-seed Alabama Crimson Tide found themselves in an unexpected battle with No. 15-seed Robert Morris. While Alabama entered the tournament as a favorite to advance deep into the competition, their opening matchup with the scrappy and determined Robert Morris Colonials was anything but a walk in the park. Despite a valiant effort from Robert Morris, Alabama managed to avoid a major upset, narrowly escaping with a 74-69 victory after a late-game surge.

Though the Crimson Tide ultimately triumphed, their performance on the court raised questions about their preparedness for deeper rounds of the tournament, and Robert Morris proved themselves to be a force to be reckoned with. The game showcased the importance of resilience, composure, and mental toughness in high-stakes postseason play. For Alabama, while the win was a relief, it served as a reminder of the unpredictability of March Madness and the level of competition at every seed in the tournament.

Setting the Stage: Alabama’s Expectations and Robert Morris’ Determination

As the No. 2 seed in the tournament, Alabama entered this matchup with high expectations. The Crimson Tide had been a consistent powerhouse throughout the regular season, earning a prestigious ranking in the NCAA Tournament after finishing strong in conference play. Alabama’s depth, versatility, and leadership, led by Head Coach Kristy Curry, had set the stage for what many assumed would be an easy first-round matchup. The team boasted some of the best individual talent in the country, including Jasmine Walker, Jordan Lewis, and Sarah Ashlee Barker, making them one of the more formidable squads in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Robert Morris, a No. 15 seed, came into the game with far fewer expectations. The Colonials were coming off a Northeast Conference (NEC) Championship win, which secured their place in the tournament. With a 19-12 record, Robert Morris wasn’t considered a major threat to top-tier teams, but the Colonials had a history of fighting through adversity. Their defense was stout, and they had a couple of standout players, including Anna Niki Stamolamprou, whose ability to drive and create shots was crucial to Robert Morris’ success. The Colonials knew that an upset over a team like Alabama would be monumental, and they were ready to give everything they had in their bid to shock the basketball world.

First Half: Robert Morris Stuns Alabama with Early Fight

As the game tipped off, the atmosphere was electric, with both teams ready to make their mark in the tournament. What followed was not the comfortable and controlled performance many expected from Alabama, but instead a close, tightly contested battle where Robert Morris made a major statement early on.

Robert Morris came out with an intensity and confidence that immediately caught Alabama off guard. The Colonials’ defense was aggressive, stifling Alabama’s initial offensive sets and forcing the Crimson Tide into difficult shots. Stamolamprou, Robert Morris’ star guard, was all over the floor, creating plays both for herself and her teammates. Early on, she hit a couple of contested jumpers and found ways to break down Alabama’s defense, giving the Colonials a surprising 16-8 lead midway through the first quarter.

On the other hand, Alabama struggled to find its rhythm. While Jasmine Walker and Sarah Ashlee Barker were generating some offensive opportunities, Alabama’s ball movement appeared forced and lacked the crisp execution that had made them so successful during the season. The Crimson Tide was unable to hit open shots, and their defense, typically a strong suit, failed to contain the athleticism and hustle of Robert Morris.

As the first half wore on, Robert Morris maintained a lead by continuing to capitalize on Alabama’s mistakes. The Colonials’ defense held firm against Alabama’s star players, forcing them to play out of character. The high-energy play of Robert Morris, coupled with Stamolamprou’s leadership, resulted in Alabama trailing 33-29 at halftime—a scoreline few had expected given the team’s pedigree.

Alabama’s Struggles: Adjustments and Counterattack

Heading into the locker room at halftime, Alabama knew they were facing a challenge that could derail their NCAA Tournament aspirations. Kristy Curry had to make key adjustments to ensure that her team wouldn’t become another victim of March Madness’ upset culture. The Crimson Tide had to clean up their offensive execution and improve their defense to match the intensity Robert Morris was bringing to the game.

In the first half, Alabama’s shooting was a significant issue. They struggled to score efficiently, hitting only 36% of their shots from the field. Part of the problem was Robert Morris’ defensive discipline and pressure, which made it hard for Alabama’s perimeter players to get open looks. Moreover, the lack of transition points was hurting Alabama, as the Colonials were able to slow the game down and prevent the Crimson Tide from getting easy fast-break opportunities.

Alabama’s coach Kristy Curry made a pivotal adjustment to start the second half: she switched to a more aggressive full-court press defense to force turnovers and speed up the tempo. The intention was clear—Alabama needed to get into transition and use their athleticism to overwhelm Robert Morris. Additionally, Curry called for more ball movement to get better shot selections and provide Barker and Walker with more open looks.

Second Half: Alabama’s Resilience and Robert Morris’ Pushback

The second half began with a renewed sense of urgency from Alabama. As the Crimson Tide applied more pressure on the ball, they forced Robert Morris into a few early turnovers, leading to easy points in transition. Sarah Ashlee Barker, who had been relatively quiet in the first half, started to find her groove. She hit a series of quick jumpers and layups, and her scoring burst helped Alabama regain the lead at 42-41 with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Alabama’s defense, especially in the paint, started to clamp down on Robert Morris’ shooters. Jasmine Walker was everywhere, contesting shots and securing crucial rebounds. Alabama’s offensive rhythm finally began to pick up as Barker and Walker created space for themselves and each other. By the end of the third quarter, Alabama had gained a slim lead, 55-50, and it appeared that they had weathered the storm.

However, Robert Morris wasn’t ready to go down without a fight. Despite being on the ropes, the Colonials showed tremendous poise and resilience. Stamolamprou kept pushing the pace, driving to the basket and creating open shots for her teammates. Kaitlyn Slagus, another key player for Robert Morris, made an impact in the paint, scoring vital points and keeping the Colonials within striking distance. With every bucket, Robert Morris continued to challenge Alabama, refusing to allow the game to slip away from them.

The Final Moments: Alabama Holds On

The tension in the arena reached a fever pitch as the game moved into the final minutes. Alabama, despite their struggles early on, had managed to push ahead to a 69-61 lead with just under two minutes left. But Robert Morris refused to quit, and with their relentless defense and timely shooting, they began to trim the lead. A quick three-pointer from Slagus, followed by a steal and a layup from Stamolamprou, cut the lead to just 71-69 with 30 seconds remaining.

Alabama was now in danger of letting the game slip away. They needed to execute on offense and make their free throws to seal the victory. With the shot clock winding down and the game on the line, Alabama turned to Jasmine Walker, who calmly sank two free throws to push the lead to 73-69. Robert Morris had one final possession, but Alabama’s defense held firm, forcing a tough contested shot from Stamolamprou that missed as the buzzer sounded.

When the final horn blew, Alabama had survived a major scare, 74-69, to advance to the second round. While they were ecstatic to move forward, the team knew they had narrowly avoided an embarrassing upset. The game had been a wake-up call—a reminder that no game in the NCAA Tournament, no matter the seed, could be taken for granted.

Post-Game Reflection: Lessons Learned for Alabama

As the Alabama players walked off the court, they were visibly relieved but also cognizant of the lessons learned from the game. Coach Kristy Curry emphasized the importance of staying focused, particularly in the tournament’s high-pressure environment. “We didn’t play the way we’re capable of,” she remarked, “but we showed a lot of heart to get through it. We’ll need to be much better in the next round.”

For Alabama, the game was a testament to their resilience and the importance of staying mentally strong under pressure. Sarah Ashlee Barker, who finished with 22 points and several clutch plays down the stretch, was the obvious standout for the Tide. Jasmine Walker, despite struggling early, added 14 points and 10 rebounds, contributing crucial rebounds in the final minutes. On the defensive side, Alabama showed glimpses of their trademark toughness, but their lapses allowed Robert Morris to stay in the game far longer than anticipated.

For Robert Morris, the effort was valiant and deserving of praise. Despite being a massive underdog, the Colonials played with poise and determination, nearly pulling off one of the biggest

upsets in tournament history. Stamolamprou, who led Robert Morris with 18 points, proved herself as a rising star capable of competing at the highest level.

 A Win, But No Margin for Error

While Alabama emerged victorious in their opening-round contest, the game served as a cautionary tale about the unpredictable nature of March Madness. Alabama avoided the upset, but the close call revealed vulnerabilities that will need to be addressed if they hope to make a deep run in the tournament. They can take pride in their ability to fight through adversity, but they must sharpen their execution and defense to avoid further scares in future rounds.

For Robert Morris, this was an inspiring performance that demonstrated they were capable of competing against the best. While their NCAA Tournament journey ended in heartbreak, they left a mark on the 2023 tournament that will be remembered by fans and players alike.